Printing device guide means



L A. THATCHER PRINTING DEVI'CE GUIDE MEANS Original Filed May 5, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l TOR INVE Z/fidfi iZa/Ma 2 BY i I AT l'oRNEY Oct. 10, 1944,

THATCHER vn m'rmsun/11;? (mini: mamas Original Filed llay 5; 1939' s Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY 1 1944. L. A. THA TCHER PRINTING DEv fcE GU-IDE- MEANS Original Fiied May 5, 1959 3 SheetS- -Sheet 5 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 10, 1944 PRINTING DEVICE GUIDE MEANS Linden A. Thatcher, Stamford, Conn., assignor to Pitney-Bowes Postage Meter Company,

Stamford, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Original application May 5, 1939, Serial No. 271,848. Divided and this application April 4, 1942, Serial No. 437.640

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a machine of the coin operated type for printing postage upon letters, such as illustrated and described in a copending application, Serial Number 271,848 of which the present application is a division. More particularly the invention relates to novel letter guide means, whereby letters are normally positioned in correct alignment with the printing devices.

It is one object of the invention to provide a letter guide outside of the front wall of the machine casing in an angular position, such that when letters are inserted in the machine, the placing of same upon the platform of the guide will normally direct one edge of the letter toward the lower side wall of .the guide, Which wall is the controlling factor in assuring proper alignment of the letter with the printing means.

It is another object to provide a letter stop means in the form of a plurality of fingers within the machine arranged parallel to the opening in the casing, which fingers cooperate with the letter guide in that they also effect the proper squaring of the letter prior to its passage to the printing devices.

A further object is to provide a letter operated trip device in aposition adjacent the side wall of the guide means and in such close relation thereto to assure contact of the letter with the guide wall before tripping can be effected.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and inthe details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that various changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

, Fig. 1 is a partial front view of the machine casing with a part broken away to show a portion of the printing unit, inner letter guide, and letter feed devices;

Fig. 2 is a. part elevational and part sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 showing letterfeed rollers in a letter feeding position;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view taken in the direction of the arrow 4, on Fig. 1, and showing a portion of the drive and trip mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a part elevational and part sectional view along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, showing a portion of a clutch drive mechanism; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a letter guide extending beyond the front wall of the casing.

In the operation of a postage printing machine of the coin operated type, such as disclosed in the aforesaid co-pending application, an operator must follow directions, which are carefully noted on the machine, to assure that the proper coins are inserted and that proper selection is made of the value which it is desired to have printed, before inserting letters in the machine. The operator is thus particularly concerned with the preliminary operations of coin insertion and selection and ordinarily does not center attention upon the proper positioning of the letter for insertion in the machine. It is important however, that the letter be properly positioned before it is inserted in order that a stamp impression may be properly located on the face of the letter. To assure such proper positioning a letter guide or supporting device is arranged so as to project beyond the front wall of the casing of the machine and in an angularly disposed position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, said letter guide comprises a platform l0 arranged at an angle of approximately 30 degrees and has a side guide wall ll extending perpendicularly upward therefrom at the lower end thereof. Said platform I!) is suitably supported upon a bracket l2, which bracket is secured to the front wall of the machine casing l3. A slot I4 is also provided in the front wall of the casing, the length of which coincides with the Width of the letter platform ll].

Another letter support and guide member is provided inside of the casing and comprises a platform [5 arranged in the same angularly disposed position as the letter platform l0 and in alignment therewith, and further has a side guide wall I6 extending perpendicularly upward therefrom and in alignment with the guide wall ll. Said platform I5 is suitably supported by brackets ll-ll fixed to the machine frame 20.

A stamp printing unit provided within the machine casing includes a printing drum l8 with suitable postage printing die portions Hi thereon, which drum is suitably supported at one end of a portable unit indicated at 2|. An impression roller 22, Fig. 2, is mounted directly beneath the printing drum i8 and projects through an opening 23 in the letter guide platform l5.

Owing to the printing drum being positioned a substantial distance in from the front wall of the casing l3, means is provided for feeding the letter to a printing position after it has been inserted a predetermined distance within the machine. Said conveyor means comprises upper and lower feed rollers, 24 and 25 respectively, which are normally spaced apart to permit a letter to be inserted therebetween, and are adapted to become engaged in a driving relation with the opposite surfaces of a letter upon starting a printing cycle of operation. The upper feed'roller 24 is mounted upon a shaftZG, which shaft is supported at the ends of arms 2828 of a yoked support 21. The yoked support 21 is mounted on a shaft 29, which shaft is carried by stationary brackets 3 |-32.

A spring 33, hav- 7 ing one end anchored to the bracket 32 and the operation.

and which will be briefly referred to here as a main source of drive 36, Fig. 1, from which a drive I is taken through a train of gears 31 to effect the drive of the printing drum l8, impression roller 22 and feed rollers 24 and 25. Said drive is normally inactive and is set in motion for letter feeding and printing operations when a letter has been inserted in the machine a Sllfi'lCiBl'lt distance to effect a tripping operation.

As previously stated, the feed rollers 2425 are normally spaced apart. 'Such spacing is provided by means of an arm 38 fixed to the shaftZQ, which arm is adapted to have its forward end 39 normally rest upon a latch or stop arm'4 Said stop arm 4| is fixed to the shaft 34, which shaft is adapted to be rotated during a printing cycle of operation through one revolution under control'of a one revolution 'clutchmechanism indicated generally at 42. During rotation of the 'shaft 34, the stop arm 4| rotates therewith and is thus removed from the path of the arm 38 to permit the spring 33 to become effective in rocking the yoked support 2'1 and roller 24 thereon downwardly, and thereby effect engagement of'the roller 24 with the letter.

' As previously stated, the important features of this invention pertain to the proper guiding of the letter to ensure correct placement of a postage impression thereon by the printing die surfaces of the printing drum. Such feeding is primarily "assured by the angular position of the combined guide members |ii--|| and |5+|6. i

To further assist in properly guiding the letter when inserting same in the machine, a plurality -of stop fingers 43 are arranged in the path of the leading edge of the letter parallel to the slot 14 in the casing, or at right angles to the guide wall It. Each finge 43 is individually and yieldably mounted. Referring to the mounting of one finger, the same is pivotally mounted on a stud 44 at the outer end of an arm 45, which arm is supported by the'shaft 34 and includes an upwardly disposed portion having a vertical letter abutting edge 46 and a, downwardly disposed portion 41 having one edge thereof normally urged against the shaft 34 by means of a spring 48. a I

When a letter is moved along the guides |Ei|5 with the left edge thereof in engagement with the walls I and IS, the leading edge of the letter will squarely engage the vertical edges 43 of the stop fingers, thereby assuring correct alignment of the letter with. the printing'die portion IQ of the printing drum. If the letter should beslightly "askew as it is moved toward thestop fingers 46,

its engagement with said stop fingers will. cause the letter to become properly positioned.

If the leading edge of the letter is squarely in engagement with the stop fingers, but with the a left edge thereof, removed from the side guiding walls ||-|6, the machine. cannot be tripped for a cycle of operation. To'provide for the latter restrication, a letter engaging trip finger 49 is positioned directly adjacent the guide wall it, as best shown in Fig. 1. With the trip finger 49 so arranged, it is obvious that a letter must have one edge in engagement, with the guide wall Hi to properly engage the trip finger for a tripping The trip finger 49 is secured at its upper end to a shaft 5|, which shaft is freely mounted in brackets 3|-32 and has a lever 52 secured to one end thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. By means of a spring 53 anda stop pin 54, the shaft 5| and trip finger. 49' are urged in a clockwise direction,

' ffect the release of clutch 42, Figs. 1 and 5,

and effect the drive of shaft 34, through the driving gear train 31. The drive of saidshaft 34 will effect removal of the stop arm 4| from the path of the arm 38, thereby permitting the upper (feed roller 24 to be urged into engagement with the letter. Since the feed rollers 24 and 25 are driven, the letter will be advanced thereby as best shown in Fig. 3.

Coincident with the tripping of the clutch 42, and immediately thereafter, a trip is effected to release the printing drum for its cycle of operation. The mechanism for accomplishing the trip and drive of the drum is not included in this description but may be found in the aforesaid copending application.

Upon completing a full revolution of shaft 34, the stop, arm 4| will have engaged the end 39 of arm 38, and will have removed the feed roller 24 from engagement with the letter. Further feeding of the letter will be accomplished by the printing drum.

Owing to the yieldable mounting for the stop fingers 43, said fingers are adapted to bear against the lower surface of the letter, as shown in Fig. 3, until the letter has passed free of the rollers 2425, whereupon the springs 48 will v return the fingers to their stop positions as indicated in Fig. 2.

Having described the invention, what is claimed 1s: I In a machine for printing value stamp impressions upon letters, a rotary printing member, a casing having a wall spaced from the printing member and an inclined slot therein through which letters may be inserted when presenting same for printing, a letter guide projecting outwardly of the casing to provide an approach to the slot and including an inclined platform coinciding with the angularity of the slot, a guide wall at the lower edge of and perpendicular to the platform, whereby a letter upon being placed on the platform will normally move toward the guide wall and be in proper position for insertion through (the slot in correct alignment with the printing member, a letter stop back of the casing wall including a plurality of spaced fingers positioned parallel to the slot to further effect proper alignment of the letter before reaching a printing position, and a letter actuated trip member immediately adjacent the guide wall, whereby tripping to effect a printing cycle of operation may be performed only when one edge of a letter is substantially in engagement with the guide wall.

I LINDEN A. THATCHER. 

